Reg-ulator for dynamo electric machines



(No Mbdel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. WESTON.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. No. 278,640. Patented May29,1883.

. Inventor.-

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. WESTON.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES.

Patented May 29,1883.

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDI/VARD WESTON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UN [TED STATESELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NENV' YORK, N. Y.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAM C-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,640, dated May 29,1883. Application filed Februaryflfi, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EDWARD WESTON, a subjectofthe Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Newark, in the countyofEssex and State ofNew Jersey, haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Dynamo-Electric Machincs,of which the following is aspecification; reference being had to the drawings accompanying andforming a part of the same. My invention relates to devices thatregulate dynamo-electric machines with respect to the amount of currentgenerated, so that the same volume of current may be produced by themachine at all times, although the resistance of the external circuitvaries.

In carrying out my invention I employ as the generator a dynamo-electricmachine in which fieldrof-force magnets are excited by a circuit derivedfrom the main or armature cir- 2o enit, and in this field-circuit Iinsert a variable resistance which is operated by an electromagnetincluded in the armature or main circuit. In this combinati0nviz., amachine of the kind specified and regulating devices ar- 5 ranged asdescribed-myinvention is mainly comprised.

The mechanism devised by me for carrying out more practically andefi'ectively theinvention also possesses certain features of novelty 3which I regard as forming partof my present invention, and which arepointed out in the claims hereto annexed. I

In describing the principle of the construction and mode of operation ofmy invention, I

will refer to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism for impartingmovement or operating the adjustable resistance or rheostat. Fig. 2 is aplan and part sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the machine,

the rheostat, and regulator combined for operation.

The main parts of the regulating mechanism are as follows:

5 A is a shaft, which is driven at a moderate speed from any convenientsource of power, a band-wheel, a, being fixed to it forthis purpose. Y

B is a swinginglever or frame, oscillated by the rotation of shaft Athrough the instrumentality of a crank-rod, (J, pivoted toan ad justableslide, 0, carried by the slotted disk!) on the shaft A. I

D is an arm or frame, to which is connected one end of an adjustablespiral spring, S, the other end being attached toalever, E, pivoted tothe frame B. -This lever E carries two arms, cf, provided with hingedpawls c f, the arms being bent so that they do not lie in the samevertical plane. Between arms 0 and f are placed-two ratchet-wheels, g d,with teeth turned in opposite directions, and so arranged with referenceto the pawls ef that the shaft F, to which they are fixed, is turnedforward or backward by the engagement with wheel 9 of pawl c, or withwheel dot pawlf, the raising or lowering of leverE determining whichpawl shall operate. Below the wheels 9 d is an electro magnct, G, thearmature H of which is carried by a frame swinging on a pivot at h, andconnected by a link, I), with the lever E. An arm, K, attached toarmature H, is provided with an adjusting-screw for limiting itsdownward movement, and is connected to the cylinder ot'a dash-pot, L,the piston m of which is hinged to the frame D. An adjustable stop, it,limits the upward movement of the armature H. The shaft I is operativelyconnected with any ordinary rheostat or adjustable resistance, V, sothat a movement of rotation of said shaft in one direction introducesmore resistance in the circuit including the rheostat, while an oppositemovement cuts out resistance.

{It is evident that under proper and now well-understood conditions thedevices de scribed may be used in various ways in conjunction with adynamo-electric machine as .a regulator. The purpose for which they aremore particularly designed is to maintain a 0. v.

uniform flow of current from a machine in the circuitot' whichareincludedelectrical devicessuch as arc-lampsin series. For thispurpose I include the magnet G" in the main circuit of the machine, bywhich the arc-lamps or similar devices are run in series, and insert therheostat in a circuit which is derived trom the main and which energizesthe field-magnets of the generator. Under this arrangement the quantityof current produced .by the machine will be maintained uniform, forshould one or more lamps be cut out of circuit, or should the speed ofthe engine run up, the magnet G becomes more highly excited and drawsdown the armature H and the lever B. This causes pawl c to engage withratchet-wheel d, and turns the shaft F so as to bring more resistanceinto the field-circuit. This continues until the strength of the magnetG and spring S balance. On the contrary, should more lamps be added tothe circuit, or the speed of the engine run down, the pawl f is broughtinto operation by the force of spring S preponderating over theattraction of magnet G, and the wheel (I is turned so that resistance iscut out of the field-circuit. By this means a sensitive regulation ofthe current generated is maintained, the devices operating to maintain aconstant current strength for all variations in the resistance of theline, and to compensate forchanges in speed or other causes which tendtovary the current produced.

In order that the shaft F may not be turned by the ratchet-wheels g dtoo far in either direction, the ratchet-wheels are left blank at apoint, as t, on each wheel.

By means of the adjusting-screw s the tension of spring S is varied, sothat the regulator may be set for use with a circuit of any given normalresistance. Slight or momentary fluctuations of the circuit do notimpart a vibration to the lever B on account of the retarding influenceof the dash-pot L.

I am aware that the magnetic intensity of the field-magnetsofdynamo-machines has been varied heretofore through the instrumentalityof an electro-magnet in the main circuit. I am also aware that theresistance of the fieldcircuits of dynamo'machines has been varied bymeans of electromagnetic regulating devicesoperating upon the machine insuch manner as to cause it to produce a constant electro-motive force;but in no instance of which 1 am aware has the excitement of the fieldbeen effected by a circuit derived from the' main, and the electromagnet, through the instrumentality of which the resistance of the fieldis varied, been included in series with the devices operated by the maincircuit. This arrangement I have found to be productive of important anduseful results.

In so far as the main features of the invention are concerned, theintermediate mechanism employed in conjunction with-the rheostat andelectro-magnet maybe greatly modified or even dispensed with but thatdescribed is both convenient and desirable, as it renders the devicecapable of a greater range of regulation and produces a more sensitiveapparatus.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of a generator, amain circuit, devices included therein in series, a derivedfield-circuit, a variable resistance or rheostat included in thefield-circuit, and an electro-magnet included in series with the devicesin the main circuit for varying the resistance of the field-circuit, asand for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a generator, a main circuit, and a derivedfield-circuit, electrical devices included in series in the maincircuit, a rheostat included in the field-circuit, an electro-magnetincluded in the main circuit, and mechanism for operating the rheostatin accordance with the varying attraction of the magnet, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination of a generator having main and field circuits, asdescribed, a variable resistance or rheostat in the field-circuit, apivoted lever provided with pawls and capable of a reciprocatingmovement, a shaft for operating the rheostat, ratchet-wheels with whichthe pawls may be caused to engage,

and an electro-magnet for controllingthe position ofsaid lever,allsubstan tially as set forth. 4. The combination, with a rheostat, of ashaft for shifting the contacts of the same, ratchet-wheels g d,reciprocating pawl-lever E, and electro-magnet G, swinging lever orframe B, shaft A, and a crank-connection from said shaft to the frame B,as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofFebruary, 1883.

EDWARD WESTON. Witnesses:

HENRY A. BECKMEYER, L. V.E. INNESS.

